Does anyone use fuel additives?

[California]

I thought that was nationwide now. Same fuel, red dye just indicates no road taxes included in (lower) price.

 

[Jtullis13]

I have owned diesel trucks and cars for 20 yrs. I use to use PS and moved away from it years ago because of other claims saying it had alcohol in it. Also these old diesels were meant to run on diesel fuel that had a higher sulfur content in it. Sulfur is the lubricant in diesel fuel. Off road diesel supposedly has more sulfur in it than regular diesel but I can not say for sure. Anyways these tractors would benefit from some kind of additive that includes lubrication, cetane boost is just a plus. I use Howes diesel treat in the winter for anti-gel and use Optilube year round. I mix the optilube with the Howes and FPPF in the winter and mix the optilube with FPPF in the summer for all my diesel motors. As california said, 2 stroke oil works good for a lubricant too. I have used that in the past. Her is a link Lubricity Additive Study Results - Diesel Place : Chevrolet and GMC Diesel Truck Forums that discusses diesel fuel additives for lubrication. Read this and decide if you want to add anything to your fuel.

 

[dickfoster]

I hear a lot of talk today about stiction in diesel injectors and the fuel additives that help prevent stiction. Is this actually a concern or just a marketing ploy by those that make the fuel additives?

In general are diesel fuels additives beneficial or should they be avoided?

I use a little Power Service but I saw a study somewhere that said adding a little bio diesel is actually better. That is if you can find it. I only add an ounce of PS to 5 Gal of regular on road diesel that I buy from the gas station pump. I don't use enough diesel to go through the aggravation of getting off road diesel. Still looking for a local source of biodiesel. If I find it I'll buy a gallon or so to replace the Power Service to add to the regular stuff. A little dab will do ya.

 

[Jtullis13]

Also Optilube has several other products, I'm not trying to sell anyone on this stuff but it really works and has made a huge difference in the motors I've put it in. Check out this new one the have dfi-agricultural

 

[Jtullis13]

Dickfoster you are right, bio-diesel is a great lubricant, but be careful with adding to much of it. Biodiesel is also a cleaner, if you use to much right away you can plug up your your fuel system. It will clean all the crap out of you lines from the Dino fuel and plug S__t up. Lol

 

[clemsonfor]

Is this a discussion about street legal fuel or what in this area is known as red or off road fuel or both ? My tractor runs a little different with the red, it will smoke a little with the red. I was told the red had more sulfur but do not honestly know. Always eager to learn so please enlighten me.

Unless your running like 5 + year old off road or live in one of those random places in america like 1% . 99% of us there is no difference in red or clear fuel except dye and dye does not cause smoke

 

[kenmac]

I only use some 2 cycle oil in the yanmar & my Ram 2500

 

[ultrarunner]

I use Power Service more for the Cetane Boost than anything. It helps quiet the Diesel knock just a bit in these loud yanmars.

I also mix in a little TWC two cycle oil. To add lubricity to it that sulfur being stripped out reduced. Its one of the best according to some diesel tech articles I have read for adding lubricity and its cheap. I add it at about the 150-200:1 rate.
After all the diesel fuel my tractor was designed to run on in japan in the late 70s is far different than the diesel fuel of today.

Is TWC a brand name... for two cycle oil?

 

[California]

It's a boating industry spec and 'TC-W3' is a trademark that can be put on any brand of oil that passes a test.

TC-W3 Two-Stroke Oil Certification Program | NMMA

It stands for Two-Cycle Water Cooled (version 3) and is a different spec from chainsaw oil etc.

Google on 'tc-w3 oil' and you'll see boaters arguing over whether this is a universal sign of quality or just a minimum spec.

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks for the clarification...

My old 1958 Evinrude 35 Lark is still running on quarts of two cycle oil from the 1950's... my Uncle got a deal on 12 cases of it... the can shows mowers, chainsaws, outboards...

At least I know the 55+ year old oil is what not to use.

I've been using a Deere TY26784 Summer Fuel Protect for Lubricity and Cetane... and have about 10 16oz bottles left with a 4oz to 52 gallon mix ratio.